Skip to content
CountryAtlas

Eswatini · Employment & wages

Unemployment, participation, employment, youth, wages and hours.

19 indicators · 12 with data

Unemployment

Unemployment

% of labour force

185th of 185 · 45th in Sub-Saharan Africa
CompareRankingIndicator page
UnemploymentEswatini's unemployment rose from 22.1 % in 1996 to 34.2 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202520%25%30%35%40%34.2 %

Eswatini's unemployment rose from 22.1 % in 1996 to 34.2 % in 2025.

Youth unemployment

% of labour force ages 15–24

181st of 183 · 44th in Sub-Saharan Africa
CompareRankingIndicator page
Youth unemploymentEswatini's youth unemployment rose from 43.3 % in 1996 to 54.3 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202540%45%50%55%60%54.3 %

Eswatini's youth unemployment rose from 43.3 % in 1996 to 54.3 % in 2025.

Participation

Participation

% of population ages 15+

156th of 182 · 40th in Sub-Saharan Africa
CompareRankingIndicator page
ParticipationEswatini's participation fell from 54.2 % in 1996 to 51.2 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202550%52%54%51.2 %

Eswatini's participation fell from 54.2 % in 1996 to 51.2 % in 2025.

Labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+)

% of female population ages 15+

122nd of 182 · 34th in Sub-Saharan Africa
CompareRankingIndicator page
Labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+)Eswatini's labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+) rose from 43.4 % in 1996 to 48.5 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202544%46%48%48.5 %

Eswatini's labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+) rose from 43.4 % in 1996 to 48.5 % in 2025.

Employment

Employment to population ratio (ages 15+)

% of population ages 15+

175th of 182 · 43rd in Sub-Saharan Africa
CompareRankingIndicator page
Employment to population ratio (ages 15+)Eswatini's employment to population ratio (ages 15+) fell from 42.2 % in 1996 to 33.7 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202530%35%40%33.7 %

Eswatini's employment to population ratio (ages 15+) fell from 42.2 % in 1996 to 33.7 % in 2025.

Labour force, total

people

154th of 182 · 42nd in Sub-Saharan Africa
CompareRankingIndicator page
Labour force, totalEswatini's labour force, total rose from 284,883 in 1996 to 430,869 in 2025.200020052010201520202025250k300k350k400k450k430,869

Eswatini's labour force, total rose from 284,883 in 1996 to 430,869 in 2025.

Self-employed (% of total employment)

% of employment

99th of 182 · 41st in Sub-Saharan Africa
CompareRankingIndicator page
Self-employed (% of total employment)Eswatini's self-employed (% of total employment) fell from 39.5 % in 1996 to 30.2 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202530%35%40%30.2 %

Eswatini's self-employed (% of total employment) fell from 39.5 % in 1996 to 30.2 % in 2025.

Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)

% of employment

91st of 182 · 5th in Sub-Saharan Africa
CompareRankingIndicator page
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)Eswatini's vulnerable employment (% of total employment) fell from 37.0 % in 1996 to 28.4 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202526%28%30%32%34%36%38%28.4 %

Eswatini's vulnerable employment (% of total employment) fell from 37.0 % in 1996 to 28.4 % in 2025.

Structure

Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)

% of employment

91st of 182 · 41st in Sub-Saharan Africa
CompareRankingIndicator page
Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)Eswatini's employment in agriculture (% of total employment) fell from 16.0 % in 1996 to 14.5 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202512%13%14%15%16%17%14.5 %

Eswatini's employment in agriculture (% of total employment) fell from 16.0 % in 1996 to 14.5 % in 2025.

Employment in industry (% of total employment)

% of employment

29th of 182 · 2nd in Sub-Saharan Africa
CompareRankingIndicator page
Employment in industry (% of total employment)Eswatini's employment in industry (% of total employment) rose from 25.8 % in 1996 to 26.7 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202516%18%20%22%24%26%28%26.7 %

Eswatini's employment in industry (% of total employment) rose from 25.8 % in 1996 to 26.7 % in 2025.

Employment in services (% of total employment)

% of employment

93rd of 182 · 7th in Sub-Saharan Africa
CompareRankingIndicator page
Employment in services (% of total employment)Eswatini's employment in services (% of total employment) rose from 58.1 % in 1996 to 58.7 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202560%65%70%58.7 %

Eswatini's employment in services (% of total employment) rose from 58.1 % in 1996 to 58.7 % in 2025.

Productivity

GDP per person employed (constant 2021 PPP $)

constant 2021 PPP $

84th of 168 · 5th in Sub-Saharan Africa
CompareRankingIndicator page
GDP per person employed (constant 2021 PPP $)Eswatini's gdp per person employed (constant 2021 ppp $) rose from intl $25.8k in 1996 to intl $47.4k in 2025.200020052010201520202025intl $20kintl $30kintl $40kintl $50kintl $47.4k

Eswatini's gdp per person employed (constant 2021 ppp $) rose from intl $25.8k in 1996 to intl $47.4k in 2025.

›No data available (7)

These indicators exist in the registry but no source reports a value for Eswatini.

Other topics